TIGHT ROPE WALKER BLONDIN

TIGHT ROPE WALKER LESSONS

1888

This newspaper item found in the Washington Evening Star of Washington, D. C. ,

Wednesday October 31, 1888, evidently copied from Lippincott's Magazine and was written by

Jean Francois Gravelet, also known as “The Great Blondin” the tight rope walker of the day.

Charles Blondin , born Jean Francois Gravelet, 28 February 1824, in the town Saint Omer,

Pas de Calis, France.

He tells the world that a tight rope walker is born, not made. At the age four he began to

toddle along a rope and by age eight he gave an exhibition in Turin where the king was in the audience.

The usual method of learning to walk the rope is to begin with walking a narrow board, decreasing the width until it is no thicker than an ordinary rope. Posturing and gracefulness are

taught during these lessons.

The rope is formed of a flexible core of steel wire, covered with the best Manilla hemp.

The diameter is about one and three quarters inches. The rope several hundred yards in length is coiled at each end on windlasses which are turned until the rope is taut. It is in error that rope

walkers feet are exceptionally large and muscular, mine are rather below the average size.

The balancing pole is an apparatus, mine is of Ash , exactly 26 feet in length, weighs

50 pounds and is in three section so it can be transported with ease.

Blondin said he is never nervous when walking the rope. I look ahead some 18 or 20 feet,

either whistle or hum as humor may catch him. Also I stay in step with the band music and find

that helps preserving my balance. One of the chief difficulties in balance is the considerable sagging of the rope under the 200 pounds bearing on it. He preferred to perform in open air, saying the air in a structure, at the height the rope must be, can be unpleasant to breath.

Blondin never took any stimulant before 'walking the rope' and avoids eating too heavy a

meal. He does not like to have the safety net as he feels it could lead to the accident it is used to prevent.

Charles Blondin Jean Francois Gravelet was three time married, the first wife, married after the birth of a son, Arnold Lepold, was Marie Blacherre and by his second wife he had two daughters

Adele and Iris and a son Edward .

He is buried in Kensel Green Cemetery, London, England.

ORIGIN OF STATE NAMES

ORIGIN OF STATE NAMES

Abstract of Wednesday's 31 October 1888, Washington Evening Star, American Notes

and Queries. Notice this is dated 1888.

Arkansas is of American Indian origin but no meaning has been found. In 1881 the

government declared the pronunciation to be Ar-Kan-Saw.

Alabama takes it's name from it major river, meaning “here we rest” as in the states motto. The river, named by the French, “Alibamon” the name of a Muscogee Indian tribe who lived on it's banks.

California was first applied between 1535 and 1539 to the southern part of the state, derived

from an old romance story, the name of a island , near India, found in 1525, by Crotez.

Colorado a past participle of Spanish colorar, meaning to color.

Connecticut, named for it's river, an Indian word meaning “Long River”.

Delaware, names for Lord de la Warr, Virginia governor of Jamestown.

Florida, given by Ponce de Leon from Spanish “Pascua Flordia” meaning flowery pasture.

Georgia, named from a colony for King George II.

Illinois, named for its river, from the name Illini , an Indian tribe, means superior men.

Indiana from the word Indian.

Iowa, named from it's river, an Indian word meaning “beautiful lands”.

Kansas, after it's river, meaning “smoky water' in Indian tongue.

Kentucky from Indian tongue, means “dark and bloody” because of it's many Indian

deaths.

Louisiana named after King Louis XIV of France, by LaSalle, in 1644.

Maine named after a French district.

Maryland named after Henerietta Maria, wife of Charles I.

Massachusetts was an Indian chiefs name.

Michigan names after the lake, Indian word meaning “great lake”.

Minnesoto from the river, Indian for “sky water”.

Missouri from the river, meaning “muddy river' by the Indian name.

Page 2

Nebraska an Indian name meaning “shallow water”.

Nevada is of Spanish origin meaning “snow covered”.

New Hampshire named for a county in England.

New Jersey was named after the Isle of Jersey, England.

New York named in honor of the Duke of York.

North and South Carolina m names for King Carolus (Gharles) II.

Ohio named by the river, Indian for “beautiful river”.

Oregon Spanish origin “wild thyme”.

Pennsylvania named for William Penn.

Rhode Island named for Zackery Rhoades Family in 1658.

Tennessee means “spoon shape” in Indian, named for the river.

Texas has large controversy on how it received it's name. Some say it so called because the roof material of their dwellings were of “tejas” , then too the aborigines spoke a language which had the word for “friends” as “tecas”. “Tecas” was also used to name the Indian inhabitants of this area.

The Territory of Texas was known to Spaniards missionaries in 1524 as Mixtecapan. The Mixtecas were the sons of Mixtecatl V, son of Izatac the progenitor of the people of Mexico at the time of Cortez.

Vermont is of French origin meaning “Green Mountains”.

Virginia and West Virginia was named in honor of the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth.

Wisconsin named by it's river, which in the Indian language means “wild rushing river”.

Packing Your Trunk

HOW TO PACK A TRUNK

First you need a trunk, if it's dusty and rusty, a careful dusting inside and out is necessary, the medal trimmings can be brightened with witchcloth , leather straps rubbed with sweet oil. Next, line it out with newspaper. Everything you are to pack needs to be made in readiness, like folded, then set near by, to save running around in a daze looking for this and that.

The thousand and one 'little things' are to be but in boxes and taped. Under clothing place at the very bottom of the trunk, here to can go your favorite hat. Wrap it in tissue paper.

Stockings, shoes, other favorites, are used to fill in the spaces to keep your packaging level

and no elevations or depressions. Shirts, skirts, pants, pack closely and be sure they are folded.

For the jackets, use the hangers, the silks, challies, ginghams, lay down flat. Next goes in

everything else, tightly. You do not want any airspace to cause 'rattling'.

Now try to close it, have the most heavy one of the family sit on it while you fasten the straps, so that the locks come together.

ABSTRACT: July 2017, Harrison H from The St Louis Republic by way of the Washington

Weekly Post, 8 May, 1900.

OLD TIME POTS AND SKITTLES & SHEET WARMER

OLDEN TIMES

POTS & SKITTLES

SHEETS WARMER PAN

The pots and kettles, skittles and frying pans, stood on 'legs', so that they could be placed

on the hot coals of the fireplace used as the kitchen stove. Later someone came up with what they

called a 'toast rack' which stood on it's own little spindle legs, a kitchen luxury that sat near the fire.

Also found in the kitchen was a shallow brass pan, about a foot in diameter, with a pierced

cover. To use it, one would fill it with hot coals from the fire and thrust it between the icy cold bed

sheet before jumping in bed.

Abstract: Harrison H., July 2017, Lewes, from Washington. D.C. Sunday Newspaper, April 29, 1900.

COLONIAL FIREPLACE

EARLY AMERICAN FIREPLACE

The early American, “colonial”, fireplace was merely a country like copy of English

fireplaces of the same period, the ability to construct them brought with the settlers.

The application of the word “colonial” to all pre Revolutionary architecture and decoration created a vague impression that there was, at that time, an early American style of architecture, which was not so. Colonial architecture is simply a modest copy of the English “Georgian” style.

If a fireplace mantel piece could not be imported from England because of cost, it was reproduced by hand from native wood.

Wooden mantels were not unknown in England, where the use of wood led to a practice of

“facing” the fireplace with “Dutch” tiles.

More or less because of the cheapness, wood was uses as mantles in both America and

England, but was 'set back' from the opening because it was unsafe to put inflammable

material near the fire.

Abstract: The Washington , D. C. , Hatchet Sunday Newspaper, April 29, 1900. By Harrison, 2017.

CONFEDERACY STARS AND BARS

HISTORY OF THE FLAG OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY

THE STARS AND BARS

The flags of the Confederacy had curious bits of history attached to their existence.

On March 5, 1861, the provisional Confederate Congress recommended that the flag of the Confederate States of America shall consist of a red field with a white space extending horizontally

through the center equal in width to one third the width of the flag. , the red spaces above and below to be of the same width as the white, the union, blue, extending down through the white spaces and stopping at the lower red space, in the center of the union a circle of white stars corresponding in

number with the States of the Confederacy . This flag was first displayed to the public 4 March,

1861, the same day of Lincolns inauguration over the State House in Montgomery, Alabama .

On the battlefield this flag bore such a similarity to the Union flag that in September 1861,

for the Army of The Potomac, Generals Beauregard and Johnson created what afterward became

known as the battle flag. It had a red ground with a blue diagonal cross emblazoned with white stars, one for each state and this flag was adopted by all troops east of the Mississippi.

The first design , bearing objections of resemblance t the stars and stripes and having no

reverse , Confederate Senate in April 1863 adopted a white flag with a broad blue star in its center

which was amended by inserting the battleflag design as the union with a plain white ground for the field. This arrangement proved faulty as at a distance the large white field resembled a flag of truce and also as combined with the union was similar to the English Ensign.

So, on 4 February, 1865, the Confederate Senate adopted a third change; “the width, two thirds the length, with the union, now used as a battleflag, to be in width three fifths of the width of the flag,

and so proportioned as to leave the length of the field on the side of the union twice the width below it.

To have a ground of red and broad blue saltier thereon, bordered with white and emblazoned with five pointed stars corresponding in number to that of the Confederate States, the field to be white except for

the outer half from the union which shall be a red bar the width of the flag.

Source: Sunday issue, 8 July, 1900, The Hatchet, of Washingon, D.C. Reprinted from the

Ohio Valley Manufacrurer newspaper.

Abstract by Harrison Howeth, Lewes, Delaware July 15 , 2017

OLD TEA LEGEND

OLD TEA LEGEND

THE ORIGIN OF THE HERB

AS TOLD BY THE JAPANESE

By a Japanese legend, the origin of tea is thus traced. A Indian prince by name Darma,

of a holy and religious character, visited China in the year 516 A. D. for the purpose of instituting

the celestials in the duty of religion. He led a most abstemious life and denied himself all rest or relaxation of body and mind. At last tired nature rebelled against such treatment, and thoroughly

exhausted, the prince fell asleep. When he awoke he was so mortified that in order to purge himself

of an unpardonable sin, he cut off his eye brows, thinking them the instruments of his crime.

As they fell to the ground, each hair became transformed into a shrub which became known to be tea. Prior to this, tea had been unknown. Darma quickly discovered the agreeable properties of the leaves since they endowed his mind with fresh powers to master abstruse religious principals

and prevented sleep from closing his eyes at opportune times.

He recommended its virtues to his disciples who in turn sand its praises to all whom they met.

In a very short time tea use came general through the Celestrial kingdom, then gradually extended to all parts of the earth.

Darma's memory is perpetuated in Chinese and Japanese drawings by the representation of a

rude figure of an old man standing in water with a reed under his feet and one of his eye brows

sprouting into a tea leaf.

Source: Wilmington Evening Journal, Monday October 26, 1891, abstract by Harrison, 2017.

BOB CHING

THE DEATH OF “BOB” CHING

RESTAURANT OPERATOR

Robert Ke Ching, Sr., owner of the White Chimney Inn at Rehoboth and his head chef,

Moi Ni Ton, were stabbed in an apparent murder suicide case.

Bob Ching, age 59, and Moi, age 73, died at Beebe Hospital before the police could unravel the riddle involved . Investigation is somewhat hampered because the two witnesses speak only Chinese.

Events began in the case when Dr. Stambaugh was called by one of Chings employes about 10:30 am to please come to the Inn at 59 Lake Avenue. Police were summoned and an ambulance crew found Ching in his bed with many stab wounds but was still alive and taken to the Beebe Hospital in Lewes. He later died at 1 pm. Police had break into Moi's room, where he was also in his bed with a large kitchen knife in his stomach, he too was taken to Beebe Hospital in Lewes, where his died before noon of an apparent self inflicted wound.

The motive is puzzling since both were like father and son, being in business for over 30 years together according to Martha Toni Mather a manager for Bob Ching's business. Both lived in rooms above the Inn.

Bob Ching had come to Rehoboth over 10 years ago to open the White Chimney Inn after

having operated a Chinese restaurant, “Bob Chings” in Ocean City, Maryland, and the Seaside at Fenwick Island.

Mr. Ching was native of Honolulu and had been at one time the maitre d' at the New York City “Don the Beachcomber's” .

Ching's twin sons who live in New York City, Robert Ke, Jr., and Raymond, arrived last night at Rehoboth. Robert, Jr., a Harvard Law School graduate is a New York Attorney and Ray is a Wiconsin graduate and entrenched in his fathers business. Ching was a widower and has a brother, Alex, in Honolulu.

Bob Ching was a vibrant, fabulous person. Liked by all locals and summer visitors of Rehoboth Beach. A real restauranteur to say the least. Also, Moi, well knew how to prepare and serve

real fine Chinese meals. There were no better beef and pork Chinese dishes, moo goo gai pan, Chicken Gai Ding, shrimp foo yong, chow mein to be had in Rehoboth Beach.

The word around town for years was 'tragic'.

JULY 4 1776 DECLARATION OF CONGRESS

UNANIMOUS DECLARATION

OF THE

THIRTEEN UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

IN CONGRESS JULY 4, 1776

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the

political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth,

the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation .

We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of

Happiness. Tat to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men , deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the Right of The People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new

Government, laying its foundation on such principals and organizing its powers in such form as to

them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for

light and transient causes, and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more to suffer, while evils are sufferable , than to right themselves by abolishing the form to which that are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpation’s pursuing invariably invariably the same

object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty,

to throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government .

The history of the present King of Great Britain , George III, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

To prove this let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the pubic good.

He had forbidden his Government to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance , unless,

suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained and when so suspended he has utterly

neglected to attend them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large district of people unless

these people would relinquish the right of representation in Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, distant from depository of Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with is measures.

He has dissolved Representative house repeatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the Rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time after such dissolution’s to cause others to be elected, whereby

the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihillation , have returned to the People at Large for their exercise, the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States for that purpose of obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners , refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent of Laws for establishing

Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent n his will alone for the tenure of their office and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has in time of peace kept a Standing Army without consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws, giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation. For protecting them by mock trial from punishment for Murders they commit on inhabitants of the States , cutting our

Trade with all parts of the world , imposing Taxes without consent, depriving the benefits of Trial by Jury, transporting us beyond seas to be tried for offences, abolishing the System of English Laws, Establishment Arbitary government, suspended our Legislatures, declaring himself invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coast, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting Armies of foreign mercenaries to complete works of death,

desolation and tyranny.

He has taken our Citizens captive on high seas and cause them to bear arms against us.

He has excited domestic insurrections and endeavored to bring our Indians upon us with their destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these oppressions WE have petitioned for Redress in most humble terms that are answered by repeated injury.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren and warned them of attempts of their Legislature, to extend unwarrantable jurisdiction over us, reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice, they too are deaf to the voice of justice, so we hold them as the rest of mankind, Enemies in War.

We, therefore, Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appeal to the Supreme Judge of mankind , do, in the Name, and by the authority of the

good People of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare.

That these United Colonies are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from the Allegiance to the British Crown, that all political connection between them and Great Britain be totally dissolved and as Free and Independent States have Power to levy War, conclude peace, establish Alliances and Commerce, and do other Acts they may do as Independent States. We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and Sacred Honor.

Signed, Sealed and Published, July 4, 1776

ABSTRACT: Harrison Howeth,, July 2, 2017 of Roots Digest, Vol 12, issue 181, Eliz Hanebury's “Happy Birthday America” Friday 30 June 2017, Xfinity.com